In the expansion of the Convention Center, as designed by Populous, the grand entrance would face Market Street.

In the expansion of the Convention Center, as designed by Populous, the grand entrance would face Market Street.

Photo: Illustrations Courtesy Of Populous

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A portion of the Convention Center expansion balcony would protrude over Market Street.

A portion of the Convention Center expansion balcony would protrude over Market Street.

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Convention Center's design needs HDRC input

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Last week, when the City Council first laid its eyes on renderings for the $325 million Convention Center expansion, there wasn't a lot of negative reaction to the envisaged building itself.

Still, the council's feelings were hurt.

What erupted was a debate among council members over how much input they should have had on the design.

In a presentation by Populous, the national designer of convention centers and sports facilities, the grand entrance would face Market Street just east of the Grand Hyatt San Antonio hotel.

It's angular, window-paned façade is reminiscent of a “Star Trek” ship — not of the United Federation of Planets but of the Ferengi. A portion of the second floor meeting space, and a third floor balcony above it, protrudes 1½ lanes above Market Street.

It's definitely ambitious. And it should appease those who yearn for more modern architecture and not more of the brown and beige color schemes of downtown's iconic structures.

Council members were told the design is pretty much set, which left a lot of them asking why they were just now taking a gander.